Robert Tournay Part 36

"You did not drink a gla.s.s that time," remarked the stout gendarme, "you had a hogshead."

The tall man scowled.

"Well, there's plenty of this," said Gaillard; "have another gla.s.s?"

"We will," said both of the gendarmes. "Let us have a few of the funny lines of your new part, citizen actor," said the stout gendarme swallowing his third gla.s.s of Burgundy.

"Willingly!" exclaimed Gaillard. He turned toward the chimney-piece and took from it the ma.n.u.script of his part. Close beside it lay the letter.

His fingers itched to take it, but the eyes of the police officers were upon him so closely that he dared not touch it.

"Let us fill our gla.s.ses again before I begin," said the actor, producing another bottle from the closet.

"How many bottles of that wine have you?" inquired the tall gendarme.

"Two more besides this," answered Gaillard, drawing the cork.

"We might as well drink them all, now that we are here," said the officer solemnly.

"It would be a pity to leave any of it," Gaillard acquiesced.

The short gendarme nodded his approval.

"I wish I had a hogshead of it," thought Gaillard. "I'd put you both in bed and leave you."

After filling the gla.s.ses once again, Gaillard took up the lines and began to act out his part. If he had been playing before a large and enthusiastic audience, he could not have done it more effectively.

The stout gendarme was soon in such a state of laughter that the tears ran down his red cheeks. His merriment continued to increase to such an extent as to alarm his companion.

"He'll die of apoplexy some day, if he is so immoderate in his raptures," said the tall man, shaking his head sadly.

The fat gendarme was now coughing violently. Gaillard stopped to slap him on the back. When the paroxysm was over, the actor brought out the two remaining bottles of Burgundy.

"A little of this wine may relieve your throat," he said, and filled the gla.s.ses all round.

"Continue, my friend," called out the jolly-faced officer; "don't stop on my account."

Gaillard went on with his rehearsal. The tall gendarme drank twice as much wine as his stout companion, who was now rolling on the floor with shouts of laughter.

Finally, when the merry fellow could laugh no more, and the last drop of wine had disappeared, the tall gendarme stooped, and lifting his fallen companion to his feet leaned him up against the wall. "Jean," he said, "thou art drunk. Shame upon thee." Then he turned toward Gaillard.

"Come, citizen actor, we must take you to the Luxembourg."

"Let us at least smoke a pipe of tobacco before we go," said Gaillard, bringing out smoking materials from the closet.

"No time, citizen; as it is we may get in trouble through Jean's indulgence in the bottle." The short gendarme certainly showed the effect of the wine he had taken, though he straightened up and denied it.

"Pierre, thou liest, thou hast taken twice the quant.i.ty I have," he rejoined, waving his hand toward the empty bottles.

This also was true; and Gaillard looked with wonder at the solemn countenance of the tall gendarme.

"In any case, let us light our pipes and smoke them as we go along the street," said the actor as he filled the pipes and handed one to each of the police officers.

"I'm quite agreeable to that," said Gendarme Pierre.

Gendarme Jean made no reply, but endeavored to light his pipe over the flame of the candle.

Through a defect in vision occasioned by his potations, he held the bowl several inches away from the flame and puffed vigorously.

At this the tall gendarme laughed audibly for the first time during the evening. Gaillard felt relieved. "He can laugh," he murmured.

"Wait one moment and I will give you a light," he said, and taking a piece of paper from the chimney-piece he carelessly twisted it in his fingers, ignited it in the candle's flames, and held it over Jean's pipe. Then he repeated the service to Gendarme Pierre, and ended by lighting his own pipe, holding the offending list until the flame touched his fingers and it was entirely consumed.

"Forward, my children!" cried the stout gendarme gayly. "We must be off.

Shall we place seals upon the doors, comrade?" he said addressing his friend Pierre.

"No, my little idiot Jean, you will remember we are not supposed to have come here at all. The seals will be placed here by men from the section.

Hurry forward now."

They descended the stairs in single file. The tall gendarme leading, and stout Jean bringing up the rear. He would stumble from time to time and strike his head into Gaillard's shoulders. "Very awkward stairs," he would murmur in apology, "very awkward."

Once in the street he got along better, although his knees were a little weak, and he showed an inclination to sing.

"Be quiet, Jean," expostulated his companion in arms; "you will get both of us in trouble."

"As mute as a mouse, my clothespin," was the obedient reply.

"You would better take his arm, citizen actor. We shall get along faster." Gaillard complied, and arm in arm they walked off in the direction of the Luxembourg.

"What's this?" demanded the warden in the prison lodge, rubbing his sleepy eyes as three men appeared before him in the gray light of early morning.

"Hector Gaillard, actor; domicile Rue des Mathurins 15; suspect. Warrant executed by Officers Pierre Ech.e.l.le and Jean Rondeau," said the tall gendarme.

The sleepy guardian turned over the pages of his book.

"Ah yes, here it is. Bring your prisoner this way, citizen gendarme."

Whereupon the stout gendarme, who had been quiet for some time, burst into tears.

"In G.o.d's name, what's the matter with him?" asked the astonished warden.

"He always does that way," said the gendarme Pierre. "'Tis his sympathetic nature. He gets very much attached to his prisoners. Cease thy tears, Jean, thou imbecile," and he cursed his brother gendarme under his breath.

Jean drew a long sob. "Adieu, my friend," he said, throwing his arms about Gaillard's neck.

"Why weepest thou?" inquired the actor pretending to be much affected.

"I am afraid they will guillotine thee, my beautiful actor, before I have laughed all the bra.s.s b.u.t.tons off my coat at the play."

"Courage, my friend," replied Gaillard; "I trust for thy sake that I may live to act in many plays. Adieu, my gendarme," and he was led away to a cell.